Carolyn Leighton, Chair
Carolyn Leighton founded WITI in 1989 as a worldwide e-mail network for women in all technology sectors. At the time WITI was established, Ms. Leighton was President of Criterion Research, a research consulting firm for the high tech industry which she founded in 1984, as well as chair of the Core Competency Database Project at Stanford University.

Ms. Leighton has 20 years of experience as an educator and entrepreneur. In addition to WITI, she founded three start-ups in the high-tech and legal sectors. She attended the University of Michigan and has a bachelor's degree in human development from Pacific Oaks College. Ms. Leighton was named one of the "Top 100 Women in Computing" in 1997 and 2000.

Karen McCarthy, Co-Chair
Karen McCarthy is a Communications Manager at Raytheon Corporation. She is responsible for communication within the Strategic Systems business of Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems. She has more than 28 years of experience with Raytheon. Her focus on business strategy as well as her expertise in communications and team development has enabled her success.

Karen helped found the Raytheon Global Women's Network and served as Vice President in 2004. In addition, she is a founding member of the El Segundo Women's Network and served as President from 2002 to 2004. Karen is the Raytheon Project Manager for the California Governor's Conference for Women since 1999. She is a member of the Raytheon Diversity Council, and an advisor for the Raytheon YESnet (Young Engineers and Scientists Network).

Karen earned her a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Management and holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in Behavioral Science with an Emphasis in Negotiation and Conflict Management.

Rebecca Mettler, PR
Rebecca Mettler is a brilliant businesswoman, an investor and philanthropist. She founded Direct Access PR in 1998, and the company turned a profit within six months. Direct Access PR boasts clients nationwide that receive consistent, notable news coverage in national publications including BusinessWeek, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. Started and staffed by professional journalists in both print and broadcast, Direct Access PR strategically positions clients as industry experts that achieve bottom line results through media publicity, speaker's bureau and awards. Unlike advertising, companies can't buy the value of a news story about their product or service. Direct Access PR is one of the few companies in the country specializing in generating positive news stories for client's products or services.

Rebecca is a former reporter for a Gannett newspaper in San Luis Obispo, California and worked in Washington DC for a Los Angeles Times Syndicate and Hispanic Link News Service that circulates to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Jennifer Beckey, Sponsors & Exhibitors
Jennifer Beckey is an entrepreneurially-minded executive with a passion for building companies. Her past business experience includes founding and acting as CEO for three start-up companies. She is currently the Vice President of Business Development for LawDocsXpress, a company that outsources legal secretarial services nationwide via the internet to law firms of all sizes, corporate legal departments and governmental entities, using secure iManage document management software. Prior to this, she was the co-founder and vice president of corporate development and investor relations at Xystus Corporation, an informatics company, where she oversaw business development efforts and strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, as well as managing the company's fundraising team. Prior to founding Xystus, she was the co-founder and CEO of Maptrace, a company that developed software applications utilizing wireless/GPS technology. Jennifer successfully raised two rounds of financing from investors for this company.

In January 2001, Jennifer founded the San Diego chapter of FWE, which became the WITI San Diego regional network in January 2005. She built the original chapter from its inception to a membership base of over 200 members, and remains active in its leadership to the present date. She also serves on the boards of the High Tech High Foundation, FWE San Diego, International Wireless Symposium, and the Women's Yacht Racing Fleet-San Diego. She speaks frequently at technology-related functions regarding her past entrepreneurial efforts and has been profiled on radio and television.

Jennifer graduated from Augsburg College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in 2001, and received her certificate, Chef du Patisserie du Bas, in August 2001.

Carey Harrington, Speakers
Arabella Carey Harrington founded CCATinfo in 2003 in order to advance technologies for Homeland Security, the fastest growing industry of the decade. As former Program Administrator for the Center for the Commercialization of Advanced Technology (CCAT) in San Diego and San Bernardino, Carey was responsible for the coordination of the congressionally funded program, among other duties. CCAT, founded in 2001, is an $18 million dollar program tasked with the identification, selection and funding of technology for Homeland Security. The program is managed by the Office of Naval Research and San Diego State University Foundation.

Prior to coming on board at CCAT, Carey was President of Harrington International. Carey acquired SBA-SDB certification for her consultant practice and was listed in the Navy Potential Contractor Program. Harrington International provided technical translations, English/Spanish, international technology transfer, technology commercialization, technology assessments, and market intelligence. Her clients included Eli Lily/Galbreath Kite, GTE, Orincon International, numerous Small Business Development Centers, and California Community Colleges.

Providing award winning community service throughout her career, Carey has served on numerous non-profit advisory boards. She founded the East Kern County Hispanic Advisory Council, which provides scholarships for Hispanic students. She is currently the President of the San Diego WITI Regional Network. Carey graduated from the University of Redlands with a BS in Business Administration. Carey attended school in Guadalajara, Mexico (School of Psychology) and Rambouillet, France, (French Studies).

Kim Fields, Speaker Assignment Project Manager
Kim Fields (PMP) is an experienced Project Manager with over twenty years in the IT industry. Her previous ten years of experience as a Business Systems Analyst, coupled with over eight years of project management experience, has given her a unique hands-on management style with a reputation for successful application of business analysis skills. She is currently employed as an IT Project Manager in charge of a multi-million dollar Customer Relationship Management (CRM) project for a multi-housing laundry services company. She is also now responsible for the ERP-IT Configuration Project at her company.

Kim is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Phoenix, where she has been facilitating courses in Business System Analysis, IT and Project Management for ten years. She teaches in all of the university's modalities, including online, on ground, and Flexnet. Kim has served as a faculty evaluator, faculty mentor, and Curriculum Chair for two years for the undergraduate Business System Analyst concentration in the College of IS&T. She is also an active member of PMI and the Santiago Canyon College Technical Advisory Committee for the Project Management Certificate Program.

Jill Masters, Marketing and Media Partners
Jill Masters is an accomplished and recognized leader with extensive experience successfully managing diverse demands of personnel, operations, communications, and marketing in private, public, and non-profit organizations. Her background includes entertainment, telecommunications, and travel industries with business experience on four continents. Currently, she does marketing and sales for Canoga Perkins, a manufacturer of telecommunication fiber optic components.

Jill's education includes English, Journalism, Marketing and a Bachelor of Science degree from Pepperdine University. She continues her formal education, focusing on environmental studies. An avid angler, she assists the National Forest Service via the Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps by patrolling local streams, educating visitors regarding fishing regulations, trash and pollution.

Cara Good, WITI Corporate Champion Award
Cara Good is an award-winning business communications strategist and former journalist with expertise in public, media and analyst relations as well as corporate marketing and positioning. She drives the strategic direction of every client account at WunderMarx Inc., a corporate marketing and PR agency that integrates internal and external communications with brand-building to increase sales and top-of-mind awareness for companies poised to become market leaders. Prior to launching WunderMarx, Good was director of client strategy at Hilary Kaye Associates Inc., a PR firm focused on emerging-growth businesses. She also served as the director of corporate and marketing communications at Ethentica Inc., a market-defining provider of digital security products and services.

Good believes strongly in giving back to the community. She is an executive member of the board of directors for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Orange County chapter, and serves as the organization's vice president of PR. Good advises many other nonprofits as well. In addition, she is involved with several professional organizations. She is the executive vice president of the International Association of Business Communicators, Orange County, and also is the managing director of the South Orange County chapter of eWomenNetwork. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in communications from National University and was recognized as the Distinguished Graduate by the School of Arts and Sciences. She also has conducted graduate work at Pepperdine University in business administration.

Judith Lukomski, Quality Control
Judith Lukomski is a highly regarded business leader and intuitive consultant. Founder of Transitions Today^SM, she has created a successful firm, dedicated to helping companies and individuals experience the powerful results of new dimension thinking. Blending an extensive background in business management and psychology with universal principles, she shares techniques and tools which can change lives. Judith is a popular and profound speaker, writer, teacher, lifecoach and crystal energy healer.

Co-author of the book Crystal Therapy with Dr. Doreen Virtue, Judith's intuitive gifts and unique connection with the mineral kingdom shine through, urging audiences to learn about the history of stones and experience the benefits of nature in everyday living. Delivering messages of transformation, she encourages on-going development of inner wisdom for personal guidance and growth. Judith reminds us now is the time to embrace change, to lead life in sacred unity, listening with both the intuitive and logical mind.